Four years in the making, the non-statutory plan is the outcome of a huge collaborative project overseen by a partnership between mana whenua, and local and central government.

WSOC general manager Phil Keogh says if you use the Hauraki Gulf for leisure, sport, aquaculture, commercial or recreational fishing, shipping or tourism – or if you are simply interested in maintaining its wellbeing – this plan affects and involves you.

“Whangamata Ocean Sports is one of the largest membership-based fishing club in New Zealand with more than 6000 members, and this plan is going to directly them.

“There's been a bit of hearsay around what's happening with the plan, what people will be allowed to do and not to do, so we're holding this forum to inform and educate our members, the community and anyone else who's interested in coming come along to learn more.”

The MC for this the upcoming meeting will be Peter Campbell, who is a highly respected member of the New Zealand Sport Fishing Council's management board. Peter was the council's vice-president from 2001-09, and resumed this roll in 2015.

“He is an experienced leader, advisor and advocate, and has more than a decade of high-level council management experience.”